US firm Simpson Thacher plans Seoul launch

December 19, 2011Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has announced a plan to open an office in Seoul, following the ratification of a trade deal between the US and South Korea, which allows U.S. firms to apply to enter Korea's legal market from January.

New York partner Youngjin Sohn will relocate to Seoul along with several associates from the firm's Hong Kong office.
The firm already has a strong Korea practice, having recently acted on deals such as the initial public offerings of Samsung Life Insurance Co. and Korea Life Insurance Co. in 2010, raising $4.4 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, and the firm acted for Korea's Shinhan Bank on a $700 million notes issue in December 2010.